Electric switch mechanism.



No. 851,690. PATENTBD APR. 3 0, 190'].

P. C. NEWELL. ELECTRIC SWITCH MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED AUCll, 1902.

7 SHEETS-SHEET l.

INVENTOR,

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WITNESSES:

PATENTED APR. 30, 1907-v F. C. NEWBLL.

ELECTRIC SWITCH MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.11. 1902.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

1 w M U r f m M NW Ty WMJ G%\ QNN/L 3%\. V m V Q Q WITN ESSES P. O.NEWELL. ELECTRIC SWITCH MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 11, 1902.

7 SHEETSSHEBT 3.

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PATENTED APR. 30, 1907.

.No. 851,690. PATENTED APR. 30, 1907.

F. U. NBWELL.

ELECTRIC SWITCH MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 11. 1902.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

WITNESSES:

PATENTED APR. 30, 1907.

F. G. NEWELL. ELECTRIC SWITCH MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.11.1902.

7 SHEETSSHEET 5.

7 SHEETSSHEET 6.

PATENTBD APR. 30, 1907 F. O. NBWELL.

ELECTRIC SWITCH MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.11, 1902A mvzmoa,

h h Q WITN ESSES No. 851,690. PATENTED APR. 30, 1907. F. G. NBWBLL.

ELECTRIC SWITCH MECHANISM.

APPLIGATION FILED AUG. 11. 1902.

7 SHEETSSHEET 7.

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wQ/LMJM. (21M W UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK C. N EWELL, OF WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WEST-INGHOU'SE ELECTRIC & or PENNSYLVANIA.

MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 30, 1907.

Application filed August 11,1902. Serial No. 119.290.

.To all whom it flea/y concern:

Be it known that I FRANK C. N EWELL, a citizen of the United States,residing at 'Wilkinsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inElectric Switch lVIechanism, of which the following, taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

This invention relates to electric switch mechanism designed to produceeflicient opening and closing of'main circuit terminals by means of apilot or controlling switch, and has for its primaryobject aconstruction of apparatus of the type referred to which will closethecircuit'with certainty and quick- .ness, and also break thecircuit-in a manner to prevent or largely reduce the amount of arcing,while at the same time acting to dissipate any are that may be produced.

In order that my invention maybe better understood, 1 will describe itin connection with the accompanying drawings, in which it is showndiagrammatically and also embodied in a'preferred form of apparatus.

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of an apparatus in which thepilot circuit is a separate circuit and supplied from a separate sourceof electricityfromthe main circuitf Figure 2 is a diagram of anapparatus de signed to carry heavy currents, and in which the pilotcircuit takes its current from the main circuit in a manner explainedhereinafter. g

Figure 3 is a similar diagram of an apparatus in which the pilot circuitalso takes its current from the main circuit, but having coils ofrelatively low resistance, this being designed particularly for use withapparatus employing light currents.

F'gure 4 is adiagramof a modified form of the apparatus of-Figure 3, thecoils in the same being supplemented in this case by additional coils ofhigh resistance, for-a purpose hereinafter explained. V

Figure 5 is-a side elevation of an operative switch mechanism designedfor use asa fluid pressure or pump controller, the same emodying mypresent invention.

Figure 6 is a central vertical section "of the switch control deviceshownin Figure 5, showin one of the coils in elevation and a spring baanced actuator for the pilot switch.

any are that may occur.

,duced by .the contact of the pilot switch 18 Figure 7 is a partial endelevation of the same device, omitting the spring casing-and showing thecontacts as driven apart.

Figure 8 is a diagram representing one of: the applications of myimprovement, the same being for multiple control of a series of motors,as upon a train of cars, and

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic representation of another application of myimprovement, wherein the pilot switch is actuated by means of mechanismsuch as a coherer, similar to that employed in Wireless telegraphy.

Referring first to Figure 1, it will be seen that in a main circuit 10,which has current from a generator 1 l,the same being utilized in sometranslating device as indicated at 12 ,there are two main circuitterminals, 13 and 14, shown as cores. of a solenoid. One or both ofthese terminals 13 and 14 are movable, and they are providedrespectively with magnetizing coils 15 and 16, the said coils being in apilot circuit that has its separate source of current, such as thebatteryindicated at -1 7, and is provided with a pilot switch 18,operating between contacts 19 and 20.

In this figure the winding of the coils 15 and 16 about their coresis sodisposed that when the circuit from the battery .17 passes through thesaid coils in-series the cores are ener ized with like polarity atadjacent ends,

whio serve to drivethe two terminals 13 and 14 apart, breaking the maincircuit and at the same time, by means of the magnetic lines of forcebetween the poles, blowing out The flow of cur rent in the coils 15 and16 in series'is prowith contact 19, in which position the pilotcircuitis completed, as shown in Figure 1, the connection 21 being open at theterminal 2.0. If now the pilot'switch 18;be moved down to contact withthe terminal.20,-the current in coil 16 continues as before, but that incoil 15 being cut-out, this core is dead, and the terminal 14 acts as asimple magnet upon terminal 13 as an armature, drawing the latter intocontact with the terminal 14, and 010s in lthe main circuitlO. a -l.';-In the "arrangement just described, and shown in Figure 1,, it is'to beobserved that the pilot circuit is'separate' from the main this being aorm of wiring which maybe;

best to use in connection with my invention in certain places; but inthe preferred form,

for use more universally, it is arranged as shown in Figure 2. ,In thisthe main circuit is provided with generator 11, and translating device12, as before, and two main circult terminals 13 and 14, the same beingalso relatively movable toward and from each other.

But in this instance, a separate source of current is not employed forthe pilot circuit,-of which the pilot'switch 18 forms a part,but currentis taken from the main circuit in the manner shown, the pilot switchcontact being, connected with the 7 main circuit on one side, andcontactlQ with the main circuit on the other side by means of the wire24 The main switch terminal 14 is connected by wire 22 to a pointintermediate between the two coils 15 and 16 which latter are woundrespectively about the cores 13 and14 These cores, if made relativelymovable, may themselves constitute the contact points if desired, but Iprefer to use separately movable blocks 13 and 14 to gain certainadvanta es in break ing contact, as hereinafter expained. The

"contacts 13 and 14 may either be attached to the cores, as in Figure 5,or they may be of iron and unconnected with the cores, as in Figure 2,in which case it is evldent that the magnetization of the cores 13 and14 will by induction cause the blocks 13 and 14 respectively to act inaccordance with the law governing the polarity on the two cores in everyinstance., The coils 15 and 16 there-' fore act to magnetize the termnals as required.

The operation of the apparatus shown in this figure is as follows: Onthe pilot switch 18 coming into contact with the contact 20, the maincircuit is closed through the switch 18 and the wire 25*, passingthrough coil 15 and dividing at X between coil 16 and the conductor 26leading to the translating device 12, in proportion to their respectiveresistances. The current thus produced energizes both coils of theterminals 13 and 14 and since they are reversely wound, causes them tobe drawn forcibly together, closing the main circuit directly by saldmain terminals 13 and 14, and thereupon coil 15 is short-circuited bymeans of the wires 22 and 22?, which equalizes the potential between thepoint 20 and the point X, while at X the current divides as before andcoil 16 is still in circuit, energizing core 14*} and keeping thecircuit closed. The switch 18 may now be opened easily. 3

If now the key of the pilot switch be moved up against contact 19*, itwill bring the two coils 15 and 16 into parallel relation, the currentdividing and passing through both. of them, but in a direction toproduce like polarity of adjacent ends of cores or of the terminals 13and 14, and thus by the'repellant action thereof, the latter areforcibly driven apart, breaking the main cirvcuit magnetically withgreat force and rapidity, and at the same time by the forces'in themagnetic field which drives them apart,

blowing out whatever arc may happen to be formed. In this action thedirection of current in the coil 16 remains as before, but the currentin the coil '15" is reversed in direction, and as a result of thisreversal of direction in the coil 15, or the energizing of the core 13by current flowing in a direction opposite to the direciton by whichithadibeen originally energized, the like polarity of the cores and ofadjacent parts of terminals 13 and 14 is 14 are in contact, and beforethe operation of the pilot switch to-s'eparate them, the small amount ofcurrent flowing through the coil 16 is sufiicient to hold the terminalstogether, the core 13 and terminal-13 acting as an armature for themagnet produced by the energizing effect of the coil 16 on the core 14.-i

In Figure 3 an arrangement is shown simiobtained. While the twoterminals 13 and lar to that in Figure 2, except in the provision ofcoils 15 and 16", which instead of being of high resistance, as forexample 1000 ohms each,as are the coils of Figure 2,- are made ofcomparatively low resistance, as for. example in the neighborhood of .04of an ohm each, and the connections are so made that when the switch 18touches contact 20,

the current flows through coils 15 and 16 between the point 20 and X",ena ling the pilot switchto be easily opened, as in the case of Figure2.

By the reverse movement of the pilot switch the coils are brought intoparallel relation to each other, the main circuit dividing between thetwo, which thus, as in Figure2, reverses the polarity of the onerelative to the other, producing like polarity and re ellant action,whereby the terminals are orcibly driven apart.

It is to be observed that in apparatus as shown in Figure 3 there'may bedanger in case the terminals 13 and 14 do not come closely together soas to cut down the resistance and prevent material flow of current inthe low resistance coil, that an excessive flow of current may takeplace through the low resareeo sistance coil, with troublesome resultshence it may be desirable when using these low resistance coils toprovide,as shown in Figure 4, and in conjunction with the apparatusshown in Figure 3 ,a couple of high resistance coils, 28- and.29,indicated in Figure 4 in position to cooperate with the coils and 16shown on said Figure 4, the rest of the apparatus remainingsubstantially the same as that of Figure 3. As shown in Figure 4, on thefirst contact of the pilot switch which closes the circuit, the currentflows in series through both the high resistance coils and both the lowresistance coils, as will be clear from an examination of said figure,where the switch 18 makes the contact 20, until'the terminals 13 and 14of the main circuit come together, when the high resistance coils 28 and29 are cut out altogether and one of the low resistance coils, 15, iscut out, leaving only one low resistance coil in circuit, the sametaking the main current, and operating on the other terminal as anarmature in a manner to hold the main terminals 13 and 14 together, asbefore described. Now when switch 18 is moved to contact 19", the lowresistance coil 15 on one terminal is brought into parallel relationwith the low resistance coil 16 on the other terminal, thus producingthe like effect as was produced by the low resistance coils in Figure 3,or by the high resistance coils of Figure 2; that is, the energizing ofthe terminal magnet so as to obtain like polarity, which operates todrive the contacts apart.

It will be observed that in Figures 2, 3 and 4, I have shdwn a peculiarform of main circuit terminal magnet, the samebeing a diagrammaticrepresentation of subtsantially the construction shown in Figures 5 to 7inclusive, in which I have illustrated an application of my improvementto a pump governor or fluid pressure regulator device, in which thepilot switch is actuated by means of a lever 18 which is in reality thelever 18 of the pilot switch of the other figures, but

which is pivoted in the casing at 42 and re-? ceives its movement byblock 43, through the operation of fluid pressure in a chamber 30, undera diaphragm 31, acting against the resistance of a spring 32, thetension whereof is adjusted by means of an adjusting nut 33, as shown. Y

*In this construction' the core arms 13 and 14 and terminals 13 and 14are mounted to operate circumferenti-ally about shafts 34 and 35, thewiring of the coils being disposed about the said shafts, and the uppercontacting blocks 13 and 14 being movable in the core arms and pressedforward on rods 37 in the heads 38, by means of the spring 39, in orderto hear more securely against each other when the main circuit isclosed.

In the construction shown in Figures 5 to 7 inclusive it will be obviousthat on breaking of the main circuit by separation of the terminals, asindicated in Figure 7, the movement of the parts will be a rotarymovement about the shafts 34 and 35, and any are which may be producedbetween the shoes 13 and 14 will, by the curved faces of said shoes,

be dissipated, in an upward direction and blown outward, by means of theaction of the repellant magnetic lines of force between the twoterminals, so that it will not be liable to injure or destroy theinsulation or other parts of the mechanism. I

Where the apparatus shown in Figures*5 to 7 inclusive is intended foruse for controlling the operation of an electrically driven pump, thechamber will be connected with the receiver or reservior for storage 5of air through the opening 41, and the spring 32 will be adjusted toallow the pilot switch lever 18 to be actuated at the proper degree ofpressure, the said switch lever being fulcrum'ed at 42, and actuated byplunger 43, as will be clear from the sectional view given in Figure 6.If a large range of movement of the switch be desired between thestarting and stopping of the pump, that is, if the fluctuation ofpressure which will actuate the apparatus to start and stop the motor,is desired to be great, the distance between the contacts 44 and 45 canbe increased by unscrewing the same; or, if it be desired to have thepump start and stop for a very slight variation ofpressure, the saidcontacts 44 and 45 will be brought closer together, to cooperate morequickly with the pilotswitch lever 18. In Figure 8 I have illustrateddiagrammatically the use of'my invention to control a series of motors,as on a train of cars, for example. The cars are provided each withterminals 13, 14, and mechanism C, C, C, as in Figure 2, each having itsown pilot switch 186,- operated by coils 48. These coils are con nectedthrough wires 46, 47, in circuit with a source of current 49, and theswitch will close this circuit to energize the cores of coils 48. Theseattract switches 18c and the circuits are then made from wire 46 throughthe switches 18a and wires 52, 53, 54, so as to energize the coils 15,16, and close the terminals 13, 14; whereupon the-current from wirepasses to the translating device T and through wires 53 to the returnwire 54. The motors on the cars are thus all controlled by single switch50 as heretofore described.

In Figure 9 is illustrated a use of my devices in wireless telegraphy,'as to make a heavy circuit by means of the extremely delicate impulsesoccurringin such apparatus. Thus let 56 represent the transmitting instrument with its secondary coil 57 and primary 58, and 59 the dischargeknobs and 60 the sending antenna. The clock escapement, device 63 isarranged so that when the pendulum swingstoward a: the circuit 66 ismade and an impulse is sent from 60. When the pendulum swings backtoward y the appa ratus is ready to receive an impulse through theantenna 61. This may discharge through the coherer 62 to the ground asshown, or be used as desired. If it is desiredto start a motor T by thewireless impulse received; it will be seen that the circuit through 67,62, coil 65, wire68, switch at 63, wire 69 and battery 64, will beclosed by the action in the coherer 62 (which normally is of too highresistance to close the circuit). This ma netizes the core of coil andsends current from Wire 70 through switch 18 wire 71, (oils 15, 16, backto 72,-thus drawing the terminals 13, 14, together andmaking the direct(ircuit 72 through the motor T.

, Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what Iclaim as newand desire to secure by Letters Patent, is the following:

1. An electric switch mechanism comprising two main terminals relativelymovable toward and from each other, an electromagnetic (oil forenergizing each of said terminals, two sets of connections to thesecoils and a switch interposed between the sets, so arranged that in oneposition of the switch the coils are energized oppositely to produce aclosure of the terminals'and in another position are energized similarlyto open the terminals.

2. The combination in an electric switch mechanism of two main conductorterminals relatively movable toward and from each other, said terminalsbeing provided with coils to magnetize them whereby they will (lose thecircuit passing through the main terminals by magnetic attraction, andopen the said circuit l:y magnetic repulsion, and means for energizingthe coils comprising eonne tions with a source of electricity governedby a switch whereby the direction of current in one coil may bereversed.

3. An electric switch mechanism comprisseaeec ing two main terminalsrelatively movable toward and from each other, an electromagnetic coilfor energizing said terminals, and a pilot switch with connectionswhereby to energize said coils in a mannerto produce unlike polarity ofthe terminals, to close the circuit, and to energize said coils in amanner to produce like polarity of the terminals, to open the circuit,substantially as described.

4. The combination in an electric switch mechanism comprising two mainterminals relatively movable toward and from each other, an energizingwinding for said terminals, and a pilot switch with connections wherebythe winding is energized to secure the attraction of the terminals andtheir closures when the pilot switch is in one position, and to securethe repulsion of the terminals and their opening when the pilot switchis in its other position.

5. The combination in an electric switch mechanism, of two mainconductor termirials having magnetizable parts and movable toward andfrom each other, coils for energizing such terminals, and means wherebythe direction of the current through the coils may be governed so thatthe terminals will either repel each'other to break the main cir- (uitor attract each other to close such circuit.

6. The combination 'with'a pair of separable contact terminalshavingmagnetizable parts, of (oils for energizing such terminals, andconnections and a switch whereby the direction of the current throughone of the coils may be reversed so that the terminals will either repeleach other or attract each other.

in testimony whereof I have'hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

FRANK C. NEVVELL. l/Vitnesses PAUL SYNNEs'rvnDT, CHAS. H. Ennn'r.

